The Peace of God, also known as the Pax Dei, was a movement that was led by the medieval church, and later by civil authorities, from the 10th to the 12th century. It was created to protect ecclesiastical property and certain noncombatants from violence. This included women, priests, pilgrims, merchants, and other noncombatants.
The Peace of God was a response to the increasing violence that was occurring in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries. This violence was largely caused by the rise of feudalism, which led to a proliferation of private wars and feuds. In order to protect the vulnerable, the church issued a series of decrees that were known as the Peace of God.
The Peace of God decrees were issued by the church in order to protect certain people and places from violence. This included women, priests, pilgrims, merchants, and other noncombatants. The decrees also prohibited the destruction of churches, monasteries, and other religious buildings.
The Peace of God was a powerful movement that had a significant impact on medieval society. It helped to reduce the amount of violence that was occurring in Europe and allowed the church to protect the vulnerable. In addition, it also helped to create a sense of order and stability in the region.
The Peace of God movement was eventually replaced by the Truce of God, which was a similar movement that was issued by the church in the 12th century. The Truce of God decrees were more comprehensive than the Peace of God decrees and included prohibitions on fighting on certain days of the week and during certain religious holidays.
The Peace of God and the Truce of God were both important movements that helped to reduce the amount of violence that was occurring in Europe during the Middle Ages. They were also important in helping to create a sense of order and stability in the region.